British and Australian PMs are taking shots over a cricket game. Here’s why
Global News
Controversy has emerged after the Australian cricket team travelled to England to take part in the Ashes – the bilateral cricket series between England and Australia.
Cricket may be one of the most popular sports on the planet, but it’s not always just fun and games.
A war of words has broken out between the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Australia over a cricket game in an ongoing bilateral cricket series between the two nations. The British and Australian press, too, have gotten involved and are taking potshots at each other.
The Australian cricket team is currently in England to take part in the Ashes – the bilateral cricket series between England and Australia. The Ashes, which is said to have started over 140 years ago and is believed to be one of the oldest sporting rivalries in the world, has not been without controversy and banter. But seldom do prime ministers get involved.
According to the rules of cricket, the batter must remain behind a white line, known as the crease, while the ball is live. If they are caught outside the crease and an opposition fielder dislodges the wickets, they are out.
On Sunday, English cricketer Jonny Bairstow was batting against Australia at Lord’s cricket ground in London. Bairstow erroneously believed that the ball was not in play when he casually wandered out of his crease.
Alex Carey, Australia’s wicketkeeper, acted fast and took the opportunity to dismiss Bairstow. This mode of dismissal is known as a “stumping.” Australia eventually won the match, going up 2-0 in the series.
The stumping, while legal within the rules of the game, has drawn sharp criticism in England as being unsportsmanlike.
Everyone from English fans to former players and newspapers has weighed in.
The talks, scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, mark another consequential step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. policy on isolating Russia.
The ceasefire's first phase is set to end in two weeks and the second phase has yet to be negotiated, though talks were meant to begin two weeks ago.
The proposal did not offer any specific security guarantees in return, according to one current and one former senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks.
European leaders are reeling after Trump's decision to upend years of U.S. policy by holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in hopes of ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sources told Reuters that the United States had sent a document to European capitals asking questions that include possible future troop contributions.
It is the sixth swap since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19. Before Saturday, 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners were freed.
The latest fighting is part of a major escalation of a conflict over power, identity and resources dating back to the 1990s Rwandan genocide.
The red and white has been a symbol of national pride for many decades, and in the wake of Donald Trump's anti-Canadian rhetoric, a sense of patriotism is sweeping the country.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance warned governments that internal threats to democracy are a greater threats than external antagonists like China and Russia.
Alarmed that U.S. security priorities lie elsewhere, a group of European countries has been working on a plan to send troops into Ukraine to enforce any peace settlement.
"There is no talk about strikes on nuclear infrastructure, nuclear energy facilities," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, denying Russia had any responsibility.
Ukrainians who fled to Canada following Russia's invasion say they feel betrayed by U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on the prospects for peace in Ukraine.
NATO's secretary-general said as the U.S. proceeds on Ukraine peace talks with Russia, the alliance will work to ensure Moscow never tries to attack Ukraine again.